Indeed, in one sense, (as scripture teaches) plants and animals are
similar as “living things.” They are “living things” that mankind is the
steward of, was given dominion over and has the responsibility to use
(certainly not abuse) in order to sustain him/herself. A very dangerous area
that I see so many “animal rights” folks venturing into is the idea or
concept that animals are equal to human beings and that the same moral codes
apply. This is absolutely not what the Catholic Church (or any orthodox
Christian community) teaches. To do so is complete heresy. As you well know,
while animals have a “life force” or a kind of “soul,” they are not made in
the “image and likeness of God.” Again, certainly, animals, and all lesser
forms of life, deserve our respect and care. But, they are also intended for
our proper/legitimate use….and eating them is, as the Church teaches and
Jesus (God) demonstrated…a proper use.

You are correct in saying that Jesus’ sacrifice was that which ended all
sacrifices…but the sacrifice of His blood applies to our salvation, that is,
the atonement of our sins. It has nothing to do with no longer killing and
eating things. And this is the “sacrifice” that is present in what I (and
all of humanity) eats. Our lives are sustained by the sacrificing (that is,
killing and properly utilizing) other living things.

When you consider all of creation….the vast majority sustains itself by
searching for/hunting, killing and eating once living (and feeling) forms of
life. But while animals do so with no regard to the pain and suffering their
prey feels, humans are called to take life humanely. The vast majority of
birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and even insects eat other fish,
birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. The ones that do not
(herbivores) become food for the others. In the grand scheme of things…very
little of creation is vegetarian.

As I mentioned, it is an undeniable fact that Jesus and his followers
killed and ate things like fish and lamb…even after the resurrection. In
Acts-10:13-16 we clearly see Jesus declaring all foods (including animals)
as clean and worthy of eating…. “A voice said to him, "Get up, Peter.
Slaughter and eat." But Peter said, "Certainly not, sir. For never have I
eaten anything profane and unclean." The voice spoke to him again, a second
time, "What God has made clean, you are not to call profane."

I’m very curious to hear how you’d reconcile this undeniable fact of God
(Jesus) killing and eating other living and feeling things? Along those same
lines…how do you reconcile the absolute fact that millions of animals suffer
a horrible, painful death in the process of raising vegetables? Living here
in the Midwest, I personally know many, many farmers, and every one of them
ends up intentional and unintentionally having to kill truckloads of animals
to keep them from completely destroying their livelihood…and….so the good
people of America can have vegetables for dinner. Also, the “organic
farmers” that I know have to go to even more extreme measures to defend
their crops. It blows my mind that so many vegans and vegetarians completely
turn a blind eye to this fact.

When it’s all said and done, I just wish those involved in “animal
rights” were so passionate about the dignity and well being of humans. I
don’t know how many vegan, animal rights people that I’ve met aggressively
promote things like the slaughtering of unborn human beings (abortion) yet
cry bloody murder when someone kills a deer to feed his/her family. Now that
is an atrocity that cries to heaven! If we want God to bless America…stop
selfishly killing innocent human beings, who, unlike animals, are made in
the “image and likeness of God.